Conveyor for high speed lidder



Aug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,759,590

CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. -9,1950 INVENTGZS. GAENO E. THORNTON EEIVESTA.VEEE/IVOE GLENN E. -S7'/L WELL EAElE J: M GEA TH JOHN a. Q/CHAEDS Aug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ETAL2,

CONVEYOR .FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER 1 Original Filed Feb. 9, 1950 l0Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE/VTDBJ. GAB/V0 E. 7' l/OZNTON 'E/VESTA.VEERINDEEGlE/V/V E STILWELL (A245 I M-GEATH JOHN E. R ICHABDS BY MW QQWW ATTORNEYAug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 9, 1950 INVENTORS. GARNO 5. THORNTONEBA/ESTA. VEQlQ/NOEE Gdf/V/V E $77L WELL EAELE J M-CGEATH JOHN 2. 21cm20.5 BY 3 /WV74:/

ATTOENEY Aug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,759,590

CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED 1.1mm

l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 9, 1950 INVENTOES. GAENO E.THORNTON [EA/57 A. VfBEl/VDEB GCENN E. $7'IL WELL EAELL" .ZMGBATH 7 JOHNE, E/CHAEDS BY Haw, 5L, bf wJ. iL/.

ATTORNEY 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 21, 1956 3. E. THORNTON ET AL CONVEYORFOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER Original 8 I m T z m mg? M m 8 ONNEAQ. N 9 5 o QWEM E i- 3 m w Q/ \5 W wfi T 40% !05 O m& A 7 3 W 0 2 r 5: W :Iilw s QNfit K M 5 1? 35 4 1 Quiz 8. 0 59 M 4 272 [65 5% Y B FIG. /6'

Aug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,759,590

CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER iled Feb. 9, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 8Original INVENTORS e s M LM Y W22 m 3% v 0 TVSNE "n amfixa A ewzeww minm Aug. 21, 1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,

CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER Original Filed Feb. 9, 1950 10Sheets-Sheet 9 /NVENTORS: 6A e/vo E. THORNTON [EA EST A. VEEE/NDEE GLENNE. 5 TM]. WEI. L [ABLE .7. M GBATH JOHN B. RICHARDS ATTORNEY Aug. 21,1956 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,

CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed Feb. 9,1950 nv VEN Toes: 6A Q/VO 5. THORNTON [PNEST A. VER R/NDEB GL ENN 5774 LW61. 1. [ABLE .72 Ill- GEATH JOHN R. BICHA 20$ ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED LIDDER Garno E. Thornton, Colton, andErnest A. Verrinder,

Glenn E. Stilwell, Earle J. McGrath, and John R. Richards, Riverside,Calif., assignors to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose,Calif, a corporation of Delaware Original application February 9, 1950,Serial No. 143,322. Divided and this application December 13, 1952,Serial No. 325,852

Claims. Cl. 198-34) This invention relates to improvements in articleconveying apparatus, and more particularly concerns improved conveyingapparatus for feeding containers, such as filled wooden boxes, to alidding machine.

This application is a division of our copending application, SerialNumber 143,322, filed February 9, 1950, and entitled High Speed Lidder,and now Patent No. 2,630,566.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel box feedingconveyor arranged to accumulate a supply of boxes to be lidded and tofeed one of the boxes to the lidding machine immediately after apreceding box has been lidded and moved out of the machine.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of abox-feeding conveyor having stop means to control the spacing of theboxes as they pass through the lidding machine.

Another object is to provide a box feeding conveyor that has stop meanscontrolling the feeding of boxes to the lidding machine, said stop meansbeing adjustable to accommodate boxes of varying sizes.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2--2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2 and showing the device for yieldably withdrawing the stops fromthe path of boxes as a lidding cycle is started.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1 with partsof the structure broken away to illustrate the box stop mechanism, seenfrom the front, with a box stopped in the proper position for initiatinga lidding operation, but prior to the start of that operation.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the nailing table of themachine starting upward with a box resting thereon and with the stopswithdrawn from the path along which said box will be discharged after ithas been lidded.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional View taken on theline 66 of Fig. 2, and diagrammatically illustrating the stop andelevator control mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan View of the hydraulic pump unit of themachine and is taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 1 with the lidof the liquid tank containing said unit removed therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the control valve of saidhydraulic unit and is taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view of one of the stops of theinvention and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the line 10--10 in Figs. 6and 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view taken on the line11-41 of Fig. 6.

Patented Aug. 21, 1956 ice . Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view similar tothe right half of Fig. 4 and illustrates the operation of the device forwithdrawing the stops from the path of boxes to permit these to travelstraight through the machine without being lidded.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modified hydraulic system which isused in said machine.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the control system of theinvention.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 1515 ofFig. 1 and shows the chuck beam controlling dash-pot of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the delivery end of anaccumulator conveyor for feeding boxes to the machine and shows therelation of the nailing table of the machine and a latch providedthereon with said accumulator just following the delivery of a box fromthe latter into said machine.

Fig. 17 is substantially a front elevational View of the accumulatorconveyor shown in Fig. 16, and is taken on the line 17-17 thereof.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 1818 ofFig. 17 and showing one of the shiftable stops provided on the aforesaidaccumulator conveyor.

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1919 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary, more or less diagrammatic side elevation ofthe delivery end of the accumulator conveyor, showing the relativepositions of a latching member, carried by the nailing table, and a boxstop mechanism, carried by the conveyor, as the nailing table is beinglowered after a preceding box has been lidded.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary, more or less diagrammatic side elevation,similar to Fig. 20 but showing the positions of the members just afterthe stop mechanism has been retracted to permit a box to move from theaccumulator conveyor into the lidding machine.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention is there shown asembodied in a high speed lidder 20 (Fig. 1) having a frame 21 whichincludes a base structure 22 and a superstructure 23. Mounted on thebase structure 22 is a box conveying and elevating mechanism 24. Mountedon the super-structure 23 is a lid holding and nailing mechanism 25.Associated with mechanisms 24 and 25 for controlling the operationthereof is a control system 26 (Fig. 14).

The frame 21 four corner angles of the base structure 22 and are ad-.

justably secured thereto by bolts 37 (Fig. 2) so as to vary the heightthat the nailing mechanism is supported above the base structure 22.

Upper ends of the front pair of corner posts 36 and of the rear pair ofsaid posts are connected together by longitudinal members 38.

Box conveying and elevating mechanism' 24 Included in the elevatingmechanism 24 (Fig. l) is a hydraulic jack 39 (Fig. 1), a hydraulic pumpunit 40, and an electric motor 41, all of which are mounted on themounting platform 33. The mechanism 24 also includes a chain conveyor 42(Fig. 2) which is mounted on a pair of transverse bars 43 and 44,opposite ends of which abut v 3 against horizontal plates 34 and 35 andare secured thereto by cap screws 45.

Hydraulic elevator 39 This includesa jack (Figs. 5 and 12), a plunger 51upon the upper end of which is mounted a nailing table 52. The nailingtable has a rectangular frame 53 (Fig. 2) which fits closely within theinner angles pf the corner posts 36 and is held out of engagement withsaid posts, and guided vertically thereon, by rollers 54 mounted on thefour corners of the frame 53;

Frame 53 includes end bars 55 and front and rear bars 56 (Fig. 2), thelatter resting in their lower positions on the fixed bars 43 and 44(Fig. 5) and being connected centrally by a pair of bars 57 which arewelded thereto and to a plate 58 which is secured by bolts 59 to aflange 58a provided on the top of the jack plunger 51. Supported on thefront and rear bars 56 (Fig. 2) is a pair of anvil bars 60 and 60"opposite ends 6f the latter extending over and resting on the bars 56and being secured thereto by clamps 62 (Fig. 6) which are provided 'onthe bars 60 and 60 and engage the under faces of the bars 56. The bars60 and 60 are provided with box guides "63 (Fig. 5) which are adapted.to center a box on the anvil bars 60 and 60' when these bars areproperly spaced apart for receiving a box of that particular length.

Hydraulic pump unit '40 This unit (Fig. 7) is enclosed in a rectangulartank 68 and includes a pump 69 located within and mounted on one wall ofthis tank, the shaft 70 of said pump extending outside of said tank andcarrying a triple sheave 71. The pump69 has a screened suction intake 72and a discharge pipe 73 which connectswitha valve 74 to discharge liquidintovalve passage 75 (Fig. 8) which has a by-pass opening 76 andconnects with a pipe 77 which leads to the lower end of the jack 50(Fig. 1).

The valve 74 (Fig. 8) has a body 78 with a vertical valve bore 79 withwhich the by-pass passage 76 connects, and which also hasa threadedby-pass outlet opening 80 into which a pipe 81 fits which dischargesinto the tank 68 (Fig. 7). The valve 74 has a spool plunger 82 which isheld downwardly yieldably by aspring 83 in a closed position in which anupper piston 84 of the plunger 82 covers and closes the by-pass opening76;. Extending upwardly from the plunger 82 is a control stem 85 whichextends through packing 86 mounted on the cover 87 of the tank 68. It isthus clear that with the valve plunger positioned asshown in Fig. 8fiuid discharged from the pump 69 passes through the valve 74 and intothe jack 50 to cause the nailing table 52 to be lifted by this jack.When the spool plunger 82 is raised to connect the by-pass opening 76with the by-pass outlet 80 and discharge pipe 81, the fluid by pass'esintc'rth'e tank 68 and, if the nailing table 52 is raised, thisdescends, forcing the liquid in the jack below the plunger 51 outwardlythrough the pipe 77, passage 76, bore 79, outlet 80 and pipe 81 of thevalve 7 4 into the tank 68.

Motor 41 This "motor (Fig. 1) has a quadruple sheave 90 (-Fig. 2) whichis radially aligned with and connected to "the pump sheave 71 by V belts91. A fourth belt 92 conmeets the sheave 40 with aisingle sheave 93 of agear box 94 mounted on the base structure standard "32 and which in turndrives a shaft 95 having'a sheave 96. The-shaft 95 also extendsoutwardly through the standard 32 where it carries a sprocket 97.

Mounted in bearings (Fig. 2) is a nail hopper operating shaft 101havingcr'anks 102 at its oppositeends and a sprocket 103 which isradially aligned with and connected to thesprocket '97 by a chain 104.

The box 'cs'n've or 42 includes a shaft 105 (Fig. '2) which journals insuitable bearings 13a and 44a provided on the transverse bars 43 and 44,this shaft having sprockets 106 "and a pulley 107, the latter being con-4 nected by a belt 108 to the pulley 96. Endless chains 109 are trainedabout sprockets 1116 and suitable idle sprockets 106a which are mountedon inner faces of bars 43 and 44 at the opposite ends thereof.

The upper flights of chains 109 ride on suitable tracks T fixed on thebars 43 and 44 so as to provide horizon tal support for boxes carried onsaid conveyor.

When the nailing table 52 is in its lowermost position as shewn in Fig.l; the box supporting surfaces of the upper flights of the conveyorchains 199 are disposed at a level slightly above the upper surfaces ofthe anvil bars 60 and 60' the purpose of this being made clearhereinafter.

Nailing mechanism 25 This includes two units 110 and 111 which arereverse duplicates of each other with the exceptions to be notedhereinafter. Each of the units 111) and 111 include a nail driver beam112 (Figs 1 and 15) opposite ends of which rest on the members 38, andare secured thereto by clamps 113. Secured to each of the opposite endsof the beam 112 and extending downwardly therefrom just within theadjacent member 38 and clamped thereto is a gib bar 114 having a stop115 on its lower end. Each beam 112 is provided with a bank of naildrivers D which extend downwardly therefrom.

Disposed between and sli'dable vertically on gib bars 114 is a chuckbeam 116 which carries a bank of chucks C into which the aforesaiddrivers slidably extend to drive nails therefrom as clearly illustratedin the aforesaid Paxton patent. A pair of compression spring elements117 have their upper ends pivotally connected to a plate (not shown)which in turn is pivoted on the adjacent driver beam 112. The lower endsof the elements 117 are pivoted to opposite ends of the chuck beam 116.Mounted in suitable apertures provided in the chuck beams 116 of theunits 110 and 111 are two shafts 119 on which are mounted collars 121these collars being connected by a transverse bar 121 (Figs. 1 and 15).Extending between and secured to members 38 as by cap screws 122 aretransverse bars 123 on which is mounted a dash pot 124 including acylinder 125 having upper and lower heads 126 and 127 and a piston 128mounted on a piston rod 129 which extends downwardly through the head127 and is secured at its lower end to the transverse bar 121. Extendingvertically through the piston 128 "are bypass passages 130 which areclosed during downward movement of said plunger by a clapper valve 131held upwardly against the bottom face of the piston by a spring 132. Onthe upward movement of the piston, this valve readily yields allowingfluid to by-pass the piston 128. Downwardt-ravel of the piston 128 andthe cylinder 125 is retarded by the necessityfor liquid contained in thecylinder beneath the piston to flow to the top side of the pistonthrough a restricted passage 133. w Adjustably fixed upon the bar121(Figs. l and 15) and disposed just below this is a crown sheet 134for shaping the lid of an overfilled box when this isbeing lidded.

Each of the nailing units 110 and 111 is supplied with nails in thewell-known manner by a nail pick device (Fig. l-) on which a pick bar141 is pivotally mounted, this pick bar being rotated with each nailingoperation by a ratchet arm 142, the latter being swung through a link 145 and a rpcker 144 by a link 145 which is pivotallyconnected at 146 tothe chuck beam 116 of that unit. This operation of the pick bar 141feeds nail to each of the chucks C on the chuck beam 116 following eachnailing operation. I v i Fig. 1 shows the nail feeding mechanism justdescribed on the front end of unit 110. A similar feeding mechanism isprovided on the rear end of nailing unit 111. Nails are supplied to each"or the pick devices 140 by nail hoppers 150 which are caused to performthis function by their being rocked by pitrnans 151 pivotally cbnnect'edat upper endsthereto ended their lower ends "to cranks 102.

Control system 26 Secured to the right chuck beam 116 of the unit 111 isan apertured rod guide 152 (Figs. 1 and 14) while extending upwardlyfrom the same chuck beam is a release finger 153. Fixed on the nail feedof unit 111 and extending downwardly therefrom is an arm 154 having anadjustable stop 155 fixed on the lower end thereof and pivoted theretojust above this stop is a dog 156. Pivoted on the same nail feed 140 isa trigger 157 which is yieldably held by a spring 158 to swing thistrigger against and into the path of the dog 156 so as to limit theupward movement of the latter. The trigger 157 has a lug 160 thereonwhich is disposed directly above the finger 153 so that at the upperextremity of movement of the chuck beams 116 in a lidding operation, thefinger 153 engages the lug 160 and swings the trigger 157 away fromabove the dog 156. The significance of this action will be made clearhereinafter.

Pivotally connected to the dog 156 by a clevis 161 at its upper end is athreaded rod 162 carrying a nut 163 and which extends downwardly throughthe apertured rod guide 152. This rod has a collar 164 beneath saidguide and a compression spring 165 coiled thereabout between the nut 163and the guide 152. At its lower end the rod 162 connects through auniversal coupling 166 with a rod 167. At its lower end the rod 167screws into a sleeve 168 having a cross-head 169 on its lower end.

Just above the cross-head 169, the sleeve 168 extends through anelongated aperture in an arm (Figs. 1 and 14) extending rearwardly froma shaft 176, opposite ends of which journal in bearings 177 fixed oninner faces of base structure standards 31 and 32. The shaft 176 alsohas fixed thereon an arm 178 which extends forwardly and has anelongated aperture for receiving the upper end of a rod 179 having across-head 180 on the upper end thereof and which extends through anapertured guide 181, the latter being fixed on plate 35 and extendingrearwardly therefrom.

Below guide 181 (Figs. 1 and 14) the rod 179 is provided with a collar182 and has a compression spring 183 coiled thereabout between saidcollar and the guide 181. At its lower end the rod 179 pivotallyconnects with an arm 184 fixed on a pedal shaft 185, opposite ends ofwhich journal in bearings 186 which are mounted on the base structurestandards 31 and 32. Also fixed on shaft and extending forwardlytherefrom is a foot pedal 187, by which the control mechanism 26 ismanipulated by the operator.

Also fixed on shaft 176 (Figs. 1 and 14) are lock collars 190 and 190which are substantially cylindrical, but are milled away (Fig. 6) toform like lock shoulders 191 and 191' on the respective peripheral facesthereof.

Shaft 176 also carried a valve actuating arm 192 which extends inwardlytherefrom and is connected by a short chain 193 (Fig. 6) to the upperend of the valve stem 85 (Figs. 6 and 8).

Pivoted in brackets 196 (Figs. 1, 2 and 14) fixed on the standards 31and 32 are bell crank levers 197 and 198 corresponding ends of which arebifurcated and pivotally connected to opposite ends of a shaft 199.

Fixed on the shaft 199 near its middle in a collar 200 and coiled aboutthis shaft between said collar and bar 44 is a coiled compression spring201.

It is now desired to point out that box stops 202 and 202 are associatedrespectively with the anvil bars 60 and 60 and the system 26 includesstop control mechanisms 203 and 203' associated respectively with thesestops and each of which is a reverse duplicate of the other. It is thusbelieved that a description of the stop control mechanism 203 willsuffice for both of these mechanisms and it will be understood thatreference to any element of the mechanism 203 will be by use of the samenumeral as has been applied to the corresponding element of mechanism203, with prime attached.

Stop control mechanism 203 Supported on the shaft 199 (Figs. 3 and 14)by pairs of links 206 and slidable vertically between the base standard31 and 43 is a control track 207. Opposite ends of this track are guidedby pairs of blocks 208 and 209 which are secured respectively to thebase standard 31 and bar 43.

Pivotally mounted in bearings 210 and 211 which are secured respectivelyto the base standard 31 and bar 43 is a shaft 212 having welded theretoa latch 213 (Fig. 6), a cam 214, and a spring arm 215. Secured to saidspring arm is a spring 216 which is also attached to a cotter 217 in theplate 35 (Fig. 2) so as to yieldably rotate the shaft 212 to hold thelatch 213 against the lock collar 190.

Extending downwardly from the anvil bar 60 (see Figs. 3, 6, and 9) arebearings 225, 226, and 227 in which a shaft 228 journals. This shaft hasfixed thereon a block 229 having a threaded stud230 (Fig. 10). The stud230 carries a sleeve 231 and a washer 232 and a nut 233. Freelyrotatable about the sleeve 231 and trapped between the washer 232 andthe block 229 is a. block 234. The latter block has an apertured lug 235welded thereon and a channel 236 milled in its outer face. Welded to theblock 234 within the channel 236 are studs 237 and 238. Slidably fittinginto the channel 236 is a stop mounting arm 240 having apertures 241 and242 which loosely receive the studs 237 and 238. An upper end portion243 of the arm 240 is bent downwardly and inwardly over the anvil bar 60and has the stop roller 202 rotatably mounted thereon in a planeparallel with said end portion 243 (Fig. 9).

The stud 237 has lock nuts 245 for limiting play of the arm 240 thereon.The stud 238 has lock nuts 246 which trap washers 247 and 248 and acoiled compression spring 249 between said nuts and the stop mountingarm 240. The spring 249 yieldably holds the arm 240 in the channel 136but permits it to rock outwardly therein until it engages the lock nuts245. The lower end of the arm 240 is beveled as indicated at 250 (Fig.9) to facilitate this rocking movement.

Also fixed on the shaft 228 (Fig. 3) is an arm 260 carrying a roller 261which normally rides upon the control track 207. Pivoted on the arm 260is a block 262 having a threaded stud 263 which extends upwardly throughan angle bracket 264 secured on the anvil bar 60. The upper end of thestud 263 carries lock nuts 265. Trapped between the block 262 and thebracket 264 is a compression spring 266 which yieldably urges the arm260 to swing downwardly and thus rotate the shaft 22810 swing the arm240 and stop 202 mounted thereon outwardly from the position in whichthese parts are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 9.

Pivotally mounted on the anvil bar 60 by a cap screw 267 (Figs. 6 and11) is a control lever 268, the upper end of which is connected by acontractile spring 269 to a screw 270 which helps secure box guide 63 inplace on the anvil bar 60. The lever 268 has welded thereto a lug 271and the lower end thereof has a foot piece 272 adjustably securedthereto by a cap screw 273. Mounted on the foot piece 272 is a roller274.

Provided on the anvil bar 60 is a stop 275 against which the spring 269swings the lever 268 as shown in Fig. 6. The foot piece 272 isvertically adjusted, when the lever is in this position, so that theroller 274 lightly rests on the cam 214 without actuating the latter.

Secured to the lugs 235 and 271 are flexible couplings 230 and 281 whichare connected by a turnbuckle 282 whereby the rocking of the am 240 byhorizontal move ment of the stop 202, when the latter is engaged by abox entering the machine, rotates the lever 268 and causes the roller274 to depress cam 214 thereby rocking shaft 212 and pushing latch 213downwardly out of engagement with shoulder 191 of the lock collar 190.

Operation The lidder 20 may be hand-fed by the operator, from a gravityconveyor leading up to the machine, by pushing boxes onto the conveyor42 so that these will be picked up by the chains 109 and carriedtheiealong until the box engages the roller stops 202 and 202' with thelatter positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 and thus swing the stopmounting arms 240 and 240 to shift the rollers 274 and 274 against thecams 214-214 thereby rotating the shafts 212-212 and rotating thelatches 213-213 to unlock the lock collars 190-190 Nothing will happenin response to the series of actions just outlined unless 'and until theoperator depresses the foot pedal 187. When this is done, the rod 179 islifted thereby releasing the arm 178 from the cross-head 180 andpermitting the spring 83 of the valve 74 to pull the valve plunger 82downwardly into the position in which this is shown in Fig. 8. Thisaction of the valve "74 takes place the instant that the shaft 176 isfreed from restraint by the latches 213 and 213' and the cross-head 180on the rod 179.

If the operator Wishes the lidder to function immediately upon a boxengaging the stops 202-202 and swinging these forwardly, he merelymaintains his foot on the pedal 187 so as to keep the cross-head 180constantly elevated so that the shaft 17 6 will be unrestrained when thelatches 213 and 213 are lowered by the box engaging stops 202-202.

As previously noted, the lowering of valve plunger 84 to the position inwhich this is shown in Fig. 8 closes the by-pass opening 76 in thisvalve, thereby propelling the oil discharged from the pump into the pipe73 through the passage 75 into the pipe 77 and the bottom of the jack50.

Actuation of valve 74, as shown in Fig. 8, to compel the liquid from thepump 69 to be delivered to the jack 50 causes the nailing table 52 to berapidly lifted. This movement proceeds only a fraction of an inch beforethe anvil bars 60-60 rise into contact with the bottom of the boxcarried on the conveyor 42 so as to lift this box from the conveyorcausing it to rest thereafter during the 'lidding operation on the anvilbars 60-60 (compare Figs. 4 and The initial portion of the upward travelof the nailing table 52 also results in the rollers 261-261 being liftedout of engagement with the control tracks 207-207 with the result thatthe shafts 228-228 are rotated to swing the stops 202-202 outwardly fromin front of the box resting on the anvil bars 60-60. With the stop thusremoved from in front of the box the springs 269-269 pull the stops202-202 rearwardly alongside the box resting on the nailing table 52.

The elevator continues upwardly, it being understood that a lid has beenpositioned overlying the box and preferably resting on devices providedfor supporting the lid in the proper position over the box as shown inthe aforesaid U. S. Letters Patent to Hale Paxton.

The 'ri'sing box is thus caused to engage the lid and the lid ends arecompressed between the chuck beams 1 16 and the ends of the box to pressthese lid ends on the box ends and lift the chuck beams to drive nailsthrough the lid ends into the box ends.

The rising of the chuck beams 116 during the lid nailing operationcauses the piston 128 (Fig. of the dashpot 124 to rise and the clappervalve 131 to open. The dash pot 124 thus oifers little resistance to theupward travelof "the chuck beams 116. As these beams start upward, therod guide 152 travels upward therewith thereby "compressing the spring165 against the nut 163 until a "considerable upward pressure is builtup against said 'nut. Upward movement of the rod 162 in response 'tothis pressure is prevented by the dog 156 engaging the trigger 157 withthe latter positioned as shown in 'Figs.

l and 14. h

At the completion of the upward movement 'of the nailing table 52, whichtakes place just as the nails are driven home through the lid ends asshown and described in said Pasties patent and into the box ends, therelease 3 finger 153 engages the lug 160 rocking the trigger 157 awayfrom over the dog 156 whereupon the rods 162 and 167 and sleeve 168 aresnapped upwardly under the pressure applied thereto by the spring 165.

This snap action is transmitted through the cross-head 1'69 and arm tothe shaft 176 to rotate the latter and lift the spool plunger 82 fromthe position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 to an upward neutralposition permitting the liquid in the jack 50 beneath the plunger 51 toescape through the pipe 77, the opening 76, the valve bore 79, and pipe81 into the tank 68 with relatively little restraint. This actuation ofthe valve thus results in the nailing table 52 and the lidded boxresting thereon dropping rapidly. This rapid starting of the downmovement of the elevator greatly increases the capacity of the machine.This could not be done, however, with the lid pressing and nailingmechanism 25 free to follow the box downwardly at such a rapid rate, asthe impact of the chuck beams 116 against the stops 115 at the lower endof the gib bars 114 would produce an intolerable noise and vibration andproduce strains resulting in rapid wear and frequent breakage of partsthus subjected to undue strain. To avoid these things and facilitate theelevator descending at the maximum practical speed, the dash-pot 124 isprovided to retard the return downward of the nail chucks 116 wherebythese are gently lowered until they come to test against the stops 115while the box leaves contact with the chuck beams 116 immediately uponthe operation of the snap action valve control as above described.

It isto be noted that the mechanism 203 and 203' each act to latch thevalve 74 in neutral position and the shaft 176 will not be freed so thatit may be rotated by the valve spring 83 until both of the stop controlmechanisms 203 and 203 are actuated by a box engaging and shifting bothof the stops 202 and 202, as shown in Fig. 4. This assures that ali'dding operation will not be performed upon a box until it is properlypositioned in the machine.

Occasionally, filled boxes which it is not desired to lid are placed onthe same conveyor with boxes to be lidded. Provision is made in the lidmailing machine 20 for quickly disposing the stops 2'02 and 202 out ofthe path of boxes which are not to be lidded so that these will rapidlypass through the machine and then for re-disposing these stops forautomatically operating the machine when the next box is deliveredthereto. This control of the stops 202 and 202 is accomplished byseizing either of the bell crank levers 197 or 198 and shifting theshaft 109 to lower the control tracks 207 and 207' as shown in Fig. 12.This moves these tracks away from the rollers 261 and 261 whereby thesprings 2 66 and 266 are permitted to rotate the shafts 228 and 228 andswing the roller mounting arms 240 and 240 outwardly, as shown in thisfigure. When it is desired to restore the stops 202 and 202' tooperative positions, the shaft 199 is shifted back to its normalposition in which it is shown in Figs. 4-, 5, and 14 by manipulation ofone of the levers 197 or 198. h

The lid pressing and nailing machine 20 is adjustable to handle boxesvarying in length, width, and height. To change from lidding a box ofone length to lidding a box of a different length involves shifting thenailing units 110 and 111 on the horizontal superstructure members 38and shifting the anvil bars 60 and 60 on the nailing table 52. Theseadjustments are fairly easy of accomplishment because of the nailingunits 1'10 and 111 being secured to the frame bars 38 by clamps 113which can readily be released and then tightened after the adjustmenthas been made. The same is true of the anvil bars 60 and '60 which aresecured in :place on the It is to be noted that when the anvil bars 60and 60' are thus shifted to vary their spacing on the nailing table 52,no attention need be paid to the mechanisms 203 and 203' as these aredesigned to be operative in all adjusted positions of the anvil bars 60and 60'.

When changing from boxes of one width to a diiferent width the positionof the stops 202 and 202' must be changed, this being accomplished byshifting the blocks 229 and 229' on the shafts 228 and 228' andadjusting the length of the turn-buckles 282 and 282' accordingly. Thechucks C which are mounted on the chuck beams 116 are adjustablelongitudinally thereon and the drivers D are likewise slidable on thedriver beams 112 as shown in said Paxton patent so that the properdisposition of the drivers and chucks in each of the units 110 and 111can be readily made to properly drive the nails in the lid of the box oflesser width which the machine is being adjusted to accommodate.

The machine can accommodate boxes varying in height within a certainrange without any adjustment by virtue of the use of an elevator forlifting the boxes against the nailing mechanism in order to press andnail a lid on the box.

The machine 20 may be adjusted to vary this range, however, by removingthe bolts 37, shifting the superstructure 23 either upwardly ordownwardly relative to the base structure 22 of the machine, and thenreconnecting the posts 36 to the base standards 31 and 32 with the bolts37. One of the distinct advantages of the machine 20 is that thisadjustment may be made by supporting the weight of the super-structure23 on the jack 50 and then by careful manipulation of the foot pedal 187(with a box in engagement with both of the stops 202202') lift this boxupwardly against the chuck beams 116 and until the chuck beams arelifted to their maximum upward position (this being done after the snapaction rod 167 (Figs. 1 and 14) has been disconnected).

At this point the foot pedal 187 which is manipulated so that the jack50 just supports the weight of the superstructure 23 whereupon the bolts37 are removed by an assistant, following which further manipulation ofthe foot pedal 187 either lifts the superstructure 23 or lowers thisuntil the nailing mechanism is brought to its new desired verticalrelation with the base structure 22 whereupon the assistant replaces thebolts 37 connecting together the posts 36 and the base standards 31 and32. The vertical adjustment of the nailing mechanism 25 is now completeand the pedal 187 is released, permitting the elevator 52 to return toits downwardmost position, and the snap-action rod 167 is re-connected.

Arrival of a box being lidded at its upwardmost position in the lidder20 causes a sudden increase in the load of the motor 41 during themoment that the box is held in this position prior to the opening of thevalve 74. Where it is desired to eliminate this factor in the operationof the lidder 20, a hydraulic system 300, such as is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 13 is substituted for the pump unit 4-0. Thisincludes a high volume pump 301 and a low volume pump 302 which arecontinuously driven and are located in the tank 68 and draw liquidtherefrom in a similar manner as is the case with pump 69 as shown inFig. 7. Pump 301 has a discharge line 303 leading to a pilot pressurecontrol cut-out valve 304 which normally discharges through a line 305having a check valve 306 from which a pipe 307 leads to valve 74. Thepump 302 discharges into the pipe 307 and the pilot pipe 308 leads frompipe 307 to the pilot control valve 304.

In between lidding cycles the pumps 301 and 302 both discharge liquidthrough the pipe 307 and the valve 74 into the tank 68. When this valveis manipulated to start a lidding cycle, the output of both of the pumpsis delivered to the jack 50. The volume of liquid discharged per secondby the pump 302, however, is only about one-third that discharged bypump 301. The resistance created in the nailing operation to the upwardtravel of the elevator table increases rapidly during the nailingoperation. This increases the pressure in the to pilot pipe 308 and thevalve 304 is set to be actuated to bypass the discharge from pump 301into the tank 68 at a certain point in the nailing operation where it isdesired to start slowing down the upward movement of the elevator table.Actuation of the valve 304 at this point cuts out the pump 301 andallows it to discharge through the valve 304 directly into the tank 68so that the balance of the upward movement of the elevator in thatlidding cycle is under the propulsion of the pump 302 alone. As thevolume of liquid delivered by this pump is only one-quarter of thecombined volume of the two pumps the cutting out of pump 301 has theefiect of shifting gears from high gear to low gear on an automobile andgreatly reduces the load imposed on the motor during the final upwardmovement of the elevator when the resistance to this movement is at itspeak. The change in drive ratio covers such a small portion of theupward movement of the elevator that the use of hydraulic system 300does not materially slow down the operation and yet it has the effect ofsmoothing out the load imposed on the motor and the power circuitleading thereto.

Box feeding conveyor 315 Although adapted to be fed by hand as abovenoted, the maximum capacity of the lid press and nailing machine 20 isattained only by associating an automatic box feeding conveyor 315therewith (Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive). As indicated in Fig. 16, thisconveyor is placed close to the base structure crossplate 35 so as todischarge boxes therefrom directly onto the lidder conveyor 42. The feedconveyor 315 includes a high speed delivery conveyor section 316 whichis mounted on legs 317 which rest on the floor. The conveyor 315 alsoincludes an accumulator section 318, one end of which is supported onthe section 316 and the other end of which is supported on legs (notshown) which also rest on the floor.

The legs 317 are telescopic to permit adjustment in the length of theseto bring the upper level of the conveyor 316 on the same level as thelidder conveyor 42 when the nailing table 52 is in its downwardposition.

The legs 317 are connected by crossplates 320 welded thereto and havelateral extensions 321 at their upper ends. Bearings 322 are mounted oninner faces of the legs 317 at their upper ends and bearings 323 aremounted on outer faces of said extensions. The legs 317 are providedwith slots 324 and have slide bearings 325 and 326 fixed on their outerfaces. Abutment blocks 327 are fixed on the front faces of the legs 317opposite the plate 35 of the lidder 20 and are adapted to be broughtinto contact or very close to this plate to effect proper spacing of thefeed conveyor 315 from the lidder 20.

Iournalling in the bearings 322 is a shaft 328 having sprockets 329.Journalling in the bearings 323 is a shaft 330 having sprockets 331which are connected with sprockets 329 by an endless chain 332. Theshaft 330 also carries sprockets 340. Also fixed on the shaft 330 is asprocket 341.

The accumulating conveyor section 318 has side frame members 345 whichpivot on the shaft 330 and are provided on the inner faces thereof withchain guides 346 and 347. Conveyor section 318 has endless chains 348which are guided by said guides and which are trained about and drivenfrom the sprockets 340. Extending outwardly from the frame members 345are box guide mounts 350 which are adjustable in length and carry attheir ends members 351 which are welded at their upper ends to boxguides 352. Supported on the lower edges of the frame members 345 is amotor mount 353 carrying a motor (not shown), the drive sprocket 354 ofwhich is connected by an endless chain 355 with the sprocket 341 on theshaft 330 (Fig. 16). Pivoted on the motor mount 353 are a pair of links360 having slots through which bolts 362 extend, the latter securing theupper ends of the links 360 to the legs 317 of the conveyor section 316by permitting a limited amount-of 1 l rotation of the conveyor section318 relative to the section 316 within the range permitted by the slots361.

Welded to the legs 317 (Figs. 17 and 18) and extending laterallytherefrom are stop mounting brackets 370, each of which includes a pairof plates 371 which are secured together at their upper outer corners bybolts 372 extending through spaces 373. The plates 371 have horizontalslots 374 near their upper edges. Slidably fitting those slots andextending therethrough are bolts 375, each of these bolts extendingthrough a sleeve 376 Whichslidably fits between the plates 371, saidbolt also extending through suitable apertures in flanges 3770f a springsupporting bracket 37? having an aperture 379 at its outer end.Pivotally mounted on each of the sleeves 376 is a stop hub 380 havingtwo arms 381 extending non-vertically downwardly therefrom to rotatablysupport a roller 382 between their lower ends. Extending verticallyupward from each hub 380 is a stop mounting am 385, the upper end 3% ofwhich is bent inwardly and downwardly slightly therefrom to rotatablycarry thereon a stop roller 387. Welded onto each arm 385 is an arcuaterod 388, the lower end of which extends through the aperture 379, acompression spring 389 being coiled about the rod 388 and trappedthereon between the arm 385 and the bracket 378.

Slidable vertically on bars 325 and 326 are shafts 390, the upper endsof which extend into and are secured in recesses formed in the headpieces 391, there being compression springs 392 coiled about the shafts390 and trapped thereon between bars 325 and the heads 391. The heads391 extend upwardly in sliding contact with the legs 317 and havecontrol tracks 393 formed in- 'tegrally therewith and extendinghorizontally therefrom. From each of the control tracks 393 extends thearms 381 of the adjacent stop 387 and just above the roller 382 so thatthe expansion of the spring 389 holds this roller upwardly against thiscontrol track. The heads 391 are apertured to receive upper ends of across shaft 394, the latter extending outwardly through the holes 324 inthe legs 317. This shaft is fixed to these heads and has keyed thereon amember 395 which is inclined upwardly and outwardly as shown in Figs. 16and 20.

' When the machine 20 is equipped with an automatic box feeding conveyor315, the adjacent front bar 56 of the nailing table 52 carries a yoke396 formed by two outwardly extending spaced arms 396a and 39Gb whichare rigidly attached to the bar 56. At their free ends, the arms 396aand 3961: support a roller 397 which has reduced diameter ends 398rotatably journaled in suitable apertures in the arms. A latching member400 is carried by the nailing table 52 as it moves up and down in thelidding machine. This latching member 400 comprises a rigid metal strap401, Figures 19 and 20, and a flag-like portion 402 that is secured, asby welding, to

the upper end of the strap 401 and extends laterally therefrom. Thestrap is welded or brazed to the periphery of the roller 397 so that thelatching member 400 may pivot about the axis of the roller.

In Figures 19, 20 and 21, it will be seen that, as the latching member400 moves downwardly with the nailing table, a flat abutment surface 403(Fig. 19 on the lower end of the flag 402 contacts the upper fiat end404 of the member 395 at substantially the end in an operating cycle ofthe machine. The abutment surface 403 is normally held in axialalignment with the end 404 of the member 395 by a tension spring 407,Figure 20, that is attached between hooks disposed on the bar 56 and onthe strap portion 401 of the latching member. The spring 407 urges thelatching member in counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 20, toa fixed position determined by the abutment of a pin 809, extendingradially from the roller 397, with a block 410 secured to and extendingoutwardly from the arm 39612. When the nailing table 52 is in loweredposition and following the feeding of a box from the conveyor 315 intothe lidder 20, the latching 12 member 400 rests against the member 395as shown in Figs. 16 and 21.

With the stop mechanism of the feed conveyor 315 positioned as shown inFigs. 16 and 17, the stops 387 are free to swing inward, as they areshown, in front of a box being conveyed on the feed conveyor 315 towardsthe machine 20, The chains 332 and 348 of the feed conveyor 315 aredriven constantly so that a box advanced thereon at this time onto thesection 316 engages the stops 307 and is held against advancing althoughthe chains 332 continue to travel beneath the box.

Assuming that in this situation a box is already resting in the machine20 to be lidded, the latter is actuated as above described to lid thisbox, this involving an upward and downward movement of the nailing table52. As this table returns downwardly, the latching member 400 is held inthe fixed position shown in Fig. 20 by the spring 39-9 so as to engagethe upper end of the member 395 and pull this downwardly during a finalportion of the downward movement of the elevator table. This depressesthe control tracks 393 (Fig. 19) which act on the rollers 382 to swingthe arms 381 so as to rotate the stops 387 out of the path of the boxheld thereby on the conveyor section 316. The withdrawal of stop 387results in this box rapidly discharging from the feed 'conveyor 315 ontothe lidder conveyor 42. As the box thus discharged passes over the flagportion 402 of the latching member 400, it swings this away from overthe member 395 so that the latter is free to rise under the impulsion ofthe compression springs 392 thereby restoring the stops 307 to theirpositions in the path of boxes traveling on the conveyor section 316 andpermitting the upper end of the member 3'95 to move to a point above theabutment surface 403 of the latching member as seen in Fig. 16. As thenailing table 52 moves upwardly during the next lidding operation, theflag 402 vill be crammed in a clockwise direction, against theresistance of the spring 407, by the member 395.

By virtue of the difference in diameter of the sprockets 3/ "and 331 thesurface speed of the conveyor section 316 is considerably in excess ofthat of section 318 thereby producing a gap between each box as it isdischarged from the conveyor section 316 and the box next following it.

From the foregoing description, it is believed clear that by looseningthe bolts 375, the stops 387 and their mounting assemblies may beshifted along the slots 374 and re-secured to the brackets 370 with anydesired spaced relation between the stops 387. The box guides 352 beingalso adjustably mounted on the conveyor section 318 may be shifted ontheir mounting pipes 350 so as to alter their spacing to conform to thechange effected in the spacing of the step 337. This is clearlyindicated by the broken-line representations of the stops 307 and thebox guides 352 shown in Fig. 17.

It is to be noted that the control tracks 393 being mounted parallelwith the slots 374 are effected to actuate the stops 387 regardless ofthe adjusted positions in which these stops are mounted on the brackets370.

The claims are:

l. A box feeding conveyor comprising conveying members arranged toadvance boxes in single file along a predetermined path, a bracketdisposed on each side of the path of movement of the boxes and extendingtransversely of the path, each bracket having a slot therein, a leverpivotally mounted in each bracket slot, a stop element carried by eachlever and arranged to be moved inwardly from a position at the side ofsaid conveying members to a position in the path of movement of a boxbeing advanced on said members, and adjustable means for clamping eachpivotal lever in the slot of the associated bracket whereby the distancebetween said levers may be varied to accommodate boxes varying in width.

2. In combination, a machine having a vertically movable work supportingtable, a feed conveyor mounted adjacent said table and arranged todeliver items consecutively onto said table, said feed conveyor having acontinuously moving conveying surface adapted to frictionally engage andmove items placed thereon, a support structure provided with laterallyextending portions having stop means mounted thereon for movementbetween a position obstructing the movement of items from said feedconveyor to said table and a position removed from the path of saiditems, means reciprocably mounted on said support structure andoperatively connected to said stop means to move said stop means betweensaid two positions upon reciprocation of said reciprocable means, alatch pivotally mounted on said table having an abut ment surfacearranged to contact said reciprocable means as said table descends tosaid discharge position urging said reciprocable means in a direction tomove said stop means to said removed position, the movement of said stopmeans to said removed position being effective to permit saidcontinuously moving conveying surface to move an item onto said table,said latch having an upstanding portion in the path of the item as itmoves onto said table, said upstanding portion being constructed andarrange to be pivoted by the contact of said item therewith to move saidlatch abutment surface out of engagement with said reciprocable means,and means for returning said stop means to item obstructing positionafter said latch abutting surface is disengaged from said reciprocablemeans.

3. A box feeding conveyor comprising conveying members arranged toadvance boxes in single file along a predetermined path, a bracketdisposed on each side of the path of movement of the boxes and extendingtransversely of the path, each bracket having a slot therein, a leverpivotally mounted in each bracket slot, a stop element carried by eachlever and arranged to be moved inwardly from a position at the side ofsaid conveying members to a position in the path of movement of a boxbeing advanced on said members, and adjustable means for clamping eachpivotal lever in the slot of the associated bracket whereby the distancebetween said levers may be varied to accommodate boxes varying in width,spring means arranged to urge said levers toward box-interceptingposition, a reciprocable control member operatively engaged with saidlevers and arranged to simultaneously move said levers out ofbox-intercepting position against the resistance of said spring means.

4. A box feeding conveyor comprising conveying means for moving a boxalong a predetermined path, stop means movable from a position withdrawnfrom the path of movement of a box to a position in said path to arrestthe movement of said box, resilient means normally urging said stopmeans to box arresting position, actuating means for moving said stopmeans to withdrawn position against the resistance of said resilientmeans, a latch member movable into engagement with said actuating meansto move said actuating means in a direction to move said stop means towithdrawn position and to latch said actuating mechanism to hold saidstop means in said withdrawn position, and means on said latch memberdisposed in the path of movement of a box advanced by said conveyingmeans to be contacted by said box and moved out of latching engagementwith said actuating means.

5. A box feeding conveyor comprising conveying members arranged toadvance boxes in single file along a predetermined path, a bracketdisposed on each side of the path of movement of the boxes and extendingtransversely of the path, each bracket having a slot therein, a leverpivotally mounted in each bracket slot, a stop element carried by eachlever and arranged to be moved inwardly from a position at the side ofsaid conveying members to a position in the path of movement of a boxbeing advanced on said members, an actuating mechanism operativelyconnected to said levers to move said levers simultaneously, and avertically movable control member arranged to engage said mechanism toactuate the same and move said levers to a position withdrawn from thepath of the box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,939,985 Keech Dec. 19, 1933 1,963,377 Paxton June 19, 1934 2,033,865Platt Mar. 10, 1936 2,084,048 Paxton June 15, 1937 2,128,963 PaxtonSept. 6, 1938 2,128,972 Stebler Sept. 6, 1938 2,371,926 Schmitt Mar. 20,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,822 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1943

2. IN COMBINATION, A MACHINE HAVING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE WORK SUPPORTINGTABLE, A FEED CONVEYOR MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID TABLE AND ARRANGED TODELIVER ITEMS CONSECUTIVELY ONTO SAID TABLE, SAID FEED CONVEYOR HAVING ACONTINUOUSLY MOVING CONVEYING SURFACE ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE ANDMOVE ITEMS PLACED THEREON, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH LATERALLYEXTENDING PORTIONS HAVING STOP MEANS MOUNTED THEREON FOR MOVEMENTBETWEEN A POSITION OBSTRUCTING THE MOVEMENT OF ITEMS FROM SAID FEEDCONVEYOR TO SAID TABLE AND A POSITION REMOVED FROM THE PATH OF SAIDITEMS, MEANS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE ANDOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID STOP MEANS TO MOVE SAID STOP MEANS BETWEENSAID TWO POSITIONS UPON RECIPROCATION OF SAID RECIPROCABLE MEANS, ALATCH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE HAVING AN ABUTMENT SURFACEARRANGED TO CONTACT SAID RECIPROCABLE MEANS AS SAID TABLE DESCENDS TOSAID DISCHARGE POSITION URGING SAID RECIPROCABLE MEANS IN A DIRECTION TOMOVE SAID STOP MEANS TO SAID REMOVED POSITION, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID STOPMEANS TO SAID REMOVED POSITION BEING EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT SAIDCONTINUOUSLY MOVING CONVEYING SURFACE TO MOVE AN ITEM ONTO SAID TABLE,SAID LATCH HAVING AN UPSTANDING